Series 7 of the Game of Thrones will premiere on July 16th, 2017. And, once again, much of it has been filmed in Northern Ireland. The many locations in the province link to make a full and rewarding tourist trail, even if, like me, you have never seen a single episode. We were on a quest… Continue reading
Borders Line benefits in Scotland’s great Scott country
There are definite signs of the economic benefits of the new Borders Railway from Edinburgh to Tweedbank, as this Guardian article outlines. It’s true that the very scenic Scottish Borders has a built-in advatange, as a fine place to set up a business and to attract staff into, more so than other places where there are campaigns to… Continue reading →
Shell warned about climate change in 1991 then lost interest
In 2017 Dutch independent news site The Correspondent published a forgotten public information film by Shell made in 1991 in which the oil major warned of the dangers of climate change and the need for urgent action. (This is an edited version of a piece I first wrote in March 2017.) In 1991 Shell, yes Shell,… Continue reading →
Tornado steam train on the Settle-Carlisle – the railway they couldn’t shut
The steam train hauled by steam loco Tornado, which left Appleby station on the Settle-Carlisle line for Skipton on Tuesday morning, Feb 14th 2017, was a significant piece of transport history because it is a scheduled service, run by a railway company – Northern – not an enthusiasts’ special. Tornado hauled 12 regular Northern services on the Settle-Carlisle… Continue reading →
Ken Loach film I, Daniel Blake “best British film” at Baftas – review
I, Daniel Blake won the best British film category at the Baftas (February 13, 2017). Ken Loach had returned from retirement to record one of the biggest successes of his career. In The Guardian, Peter Bradshaw wrote: “… it has something which is lacking in so many British social-realist film, or films of all kinds…. Continue reading →
LuggageHero bag and case drop service in Copenhagen liberates visitors
Update – March 7th, 2018. LuggageHero moves into London and New York. LuggageHero is a brilliantly simple, and disruptive, travel idea. And easily the best I have seen, so far, this year (2018). It’s something I’ve done many times. Turned up in a city or town and I can’t check into the hotel. Nowhere to leave my… Continue reading →